Portable bleacher



July 17, 1928. 1,677,352

' v H. D. OBERDORFER PORTABLE BLEACHER Filed Jain} 51, 1925 M -,0 I I nL Patented July 17, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY D. OBERDORFER, OF CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS PORTABLE BLEACHER.

Application filed January 31, 1925. Serial No. 6,005.

This invention relates to a portable or knockdown stand and bleacherconstruction, of which the principal object is to provide means forspacing and bracing the supports so that the stand can be easily andquickly assembled or taken down; a further object of the invention is toprovide an improved spacer and connector which may be used to connectsupporting jacks for the same or adj acent stringers of a bleacherconstruction of this kind. Other objects of the invention will appearhereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective of a portion of ableacher em 5 bodying the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates one ofthe connectors; and Fig. 3 is aperspective of one of the connectingheads. In assembling or erecting a portable bleacher or standconstruction it is desirable that as many as possible of the parts besimilar or interchangeable so that less chances may be afforded forerrors and delays in assembling. It is also important that the supportsfor the stringers be accurately spaced 5 and rigidly connected togetherin order that the stringers may be held securely in place. The presentinvention is designed and intended to engage and connect the supportsthemselves rather than the stringers, thus 0 strengthening thefoundation and not weakening the stringers by the insertion of bolts orother fastening devices.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a pair of stringers 5 areshown in an in- 5 clined position, as they are in a portable stand orbleacher, construction, upheld by supporting jacks 6 and 7 of differentheights. These jacks 6 and 7 may be of any desired or suitableconstruction preferably wood legs .0 suitably braced and disposed toengage the sides and lower edges of the stringers and to hold them in anupright position.

i In order to space apart and connect the jacks, a plurality ofconnectors are provided L5 each consisting of a rigid bar 8 with anangular head 9 at each end, one portion of the angular head is connectedto the bar by means of one or more fastening bolts .or rivets and forthe jacks with angular legs, as shown in Fi 1, it is contemplated thatthe heads may fie loosely pivoted to assume the relative position shownin Fig. 2 or the heads may be rigidly attached in these positions. Theother angular portion of the head is formed with a key hole 10, and anotch 11 in its lower edge.

In order to engage the heads of theconneetors headed projections 12 areprovided on the sides and edges of the supporting acks 6 and 7 properlyspaced apart so that the key hole slot and notch, of any connector head9 may be easily engaged over the projections. It is found preferable toprovide a plate 13 to which the headed projections 12 are attached, andthese plates may be fastened to the supporting jacks by screws 14. orother suitable fastening means.

It is obvious that with angular supporting jacks as shown, the heads 9of the connectors must be inclined oppositely, as shown to engage theheaded projections properly, but in connecting the supporting jacks ofthe same stringer it is not necessary to incline the' heads as the edgesof the jacks will be parallel. By connecting the supporting jacks inthis manner-it is an easy matter to set up and properly space thestringer and to connect the supports so that the stand when erected isnot likely to collapse.

In illustrating this embodiment of the invention the seat and footboards together with the brackets for attaching them to the stringers,as well as the supporting or base boards for the jacks, are all omitted,for the sake of clearness. It is obvious that the assembling andknocking down operations may be accomplished with the greatest ease anddispatch in a construction of this kind, since it is not necessary touse any tools in these operations. The heads 9'are simply hooked over'orunhooked from the projections which are properly spaced to engage them,and the parts may be quickly and accurately set in place and connected,and as easily taken apart.

I claim:

1. In a portable stand structure, a pair of spaced supporting jacks eachhaving pairs of opposite angularly disposed legs, the opposite le S ofthe jacks being inclined away from eac other, and means for bracing andspacing the jacks apart comprising headed projections at the outer sidesof the opposite legs, a cross bar, and inclined heads with spacedkeyhole slots at the ends of the bar to engage the headed projections.

portable stand 2. A spacing brace for angle jacks comprising a straightbar and an bar head for each end, the head having one flange attached tothe bar and the other dlsposed at the end transversely of the bar and atan angle other than a right angle thereto 5 and having spaced keyholeslots in the other flange for engaging headed projections.

3. In a portable stand structure, a 'pair of spaced supporting jackseach having pairs of opposite angularly dis osed le S the 0 posite legsof the jacks bding inclined awxfy from each other, spacing the jacksapart comprising projections at the outer sides of the opposite legs,and a cross bar with slots at the ends of the bar to engage theprojections.

HENRY D. OBERDORFER.

and means for bracing and

